PBA intervenes

PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino has stepped into the Marlou Aquino impasse, reportedly trying to convince Red Bull officials to withdraw its offer sheet to Marlou Aquino to maintain harmony in the league.

Bernardino met with the Red Bull team management yesterday advising them to refrain from pursuing its bid to enlist the 6-foot-9 Aquino since it may create friction among member ballclubs.

The league is wary of an "escape clause" in the reported offer sheet which would give Aquino the option to go to the team of his choice after one year since it would create a precedent and mess up the entire PBA recruiting system.

Red Bull sources said team top official George Chua promised not to do anything violative of league rules and deferred their submission of a copy of the offer sheet to the PBA Commissioner's Office pending a meeting with Sta. Lucia counterpart Excy Robles.

Before the meeting with Bernardino, Chua had reportedly decided to make official its deal with Aquino.

The PBA board of governors isn't actually against Red Bull's bid on Aquino but is opposing the reported offer sheet. Sta. Lucia team manager Buddy Encarnado has seen the draft of the offer sheet and promised to question its legality once he receives the official paper.

Encarnado is specifically against the "escape clause" giving Aquino the right to go to the team of his choice at the expiration of the one-year pact.

Among the other salient features of the contract are a lucrative bonus package, a no-trade clause and a minimum playing time of 40 minutes.